CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL DEFORMITIES/COSMETIC SURGERY Effect of Frequent Application of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Corticotomized Tooth Movement in Dogs: A Pilot Study Kwang Heung Han, DDS, MSD, PhD, * Jae Hyun Park, DMD, MSD, MS, PhD,y Mohamed Bayome, BDS, MMS, PhD,z In-Seong Jeon, DDS, MSD, PhD,x Won Lee, DDS, MSD, PhD,jj and Yoon-Ah Kook, DDS, PhD{ Purpose: The purposes of the present study were to evaluate the effects of frequent applications of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on corticotomy-assisted tooth movement in a beagle dog model and to compare the effects in the mandible and maxilla. Materials and Methods: In 4 male beagles, the maxillary and mandibular second premolars were extracted. The third premolars were corticotomized and then protracted from the canines with a contin- uous force of 200 g. Daily LLLT (using an aluminum gallium indium phosphide [AlGaInP] diode) was applied at the buccal mucosa of the corticotomized premolars on 1 side only. The tooth movement was measured for 8 weeks. Fluorochromes were injected intravenously at the start of the experiment (T0) and after 2 (T2), 4 (T4), and 8 (T8) weeks to evaluate new bone formation on the tension sides. Histomor- phometric and immunohistologic evaluations were performed. Results: In the mandible, the movement of the corticotomized premolars in the LLLT plus corticotomy group was less than that in the corticotomy-only group, although the difference was not statistically signif- icant. In the maxilla, no significant differences between the 2 groups were found. Osteoclastic and prolif- erating cell activities and the amount of new bone formation were greater in the mandibular LLLT plus corticotomy group than in the corticotomy-only group. Conclusions: The frequent application of LLLT showed no significant effect on the corticotomized tooth movement. Ó 2014 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 72:1182.e1-1182.e12, 2014 Prolonged treatment has been a discouraging fac- tor for some patients and can be a burden for clinicians owing to the increased risk of dental caries, root resorption, and periodontal disease. 1 Therefore, it is important to understand the tooth movement mechanisms and to pursue new modalities that will improve the rate of movement. *Private Practitioner, Former Graduate Student, Graduate School of Clinical Dental Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. yAssociate Professor and Chair, Postgraduate Orthodontic Program, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ; and Adjunct Professor, the Graduate School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. zResearch Assistant Professor, Department of Dentistry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; and Visiting Professor, Department of Postgraduate Studies, Universidad Auton oma del Paraguay, Asunci on, Paraguay. xPrivate Practitioner, Seoul, Korea. jjProfessor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Uijeongbu St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, GyeongGi, Korea. {Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Seoul St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. This study was partly supported by the fund of the Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, and the fund of the Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Clinical Dental Science, The Catholic University of Korea. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Kook: Department of Orthodontics, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; e-mail: kook190036@yahoo.com Received January 23 2014 Accepted February 14 2014 Ó 2014 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 0278-2391/14/00239-0$36.00/0 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2014.02.028 1182.e1